Concerned about flying school
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Having vented my spleen earlier here are a few words to try and give you some constructive perspective on your situation.
The world in general needs people who are prepared to challenge innapropriate behaviour which may be regarded by a minority as acceptable and the norm. If it weren't so law and order would be an unheard of concept.
By failing to challenge the issues you described above you became complicit in the problem - an accomplice!
Think on the following as you make this decision you seem to find so difficult:-
In any industry there are those who try to play it by the book and those who try to buck the system. Your complicity and your instructors recklessness make it harder for legitimate schools to run a cost effective business.
Every time you went along with some illegitimate act it added more fuel to your instructors self-delusion that what he was doing was okay.
The longer you allowed and continue to allow the situation to remin unchallenged the greater the odds become that the wheel will fall off and you or more importantly some poor other succour will 'come a cropper'
Each time the CAA becomes aware that behaviour like this is going unchallenged it fuels their fire for heavy handed regulation and new legislation further burdening the system
Whilst I can't speak for the CAA I can tell you with authority that most enforcement agencies look favourably on those whose intent is honourable. The dishonest guy gets no short thrift with them.
Give consideration to the level and depth of any investigation made at this school after some unfortunate event takes place in the future. The last thing you need is retrospective enquiries leading to a knock on your door. Let me assure you it does happen - i've done the door knocking!
Challenging the behaviour directly is a fair way to start the process. However you need to decide whether your challenge will be heeded for longer than ten seconds after you walk out the door. If you are at all unsure then .........
However, I would urge you to be sure of what your intentions were when you started this thread. Were they honourable and with the intention of raising safety standards. Or were they borne out of some sense of being wronged or crossed by a particular individual.
Bear in mind, that school and that instuctor have probably already read this thread and they'll be plotting their next move already - ball's in your court now!
R1tamer
PS If your thread and allegations are all a crock then you can kiss my curvy butt!
The world in general needs people who are prepared to challenge innapropriate behaviour which may be regarded by a minority as acceptable and the norm. If it weren't so law and order would be an unheard of concept.
By failing to challenge the issues you described above you became complicit in the problem - an accomplice!
Think on the following as you make this decision you seem to find so difficult:-
In any industry there are those who try to play it by the book and those who try to buck the system. Your complicity and your instructors recklessness make it harder for legitimate schools to run a cost effective business.
Every time you went along with some illegitimate act it added more fuel to your instructors self-delusion that what he was doing was okay.
The longer you allowed and continue to allow the situation to remin unchallenged the greater the odds become that the wheel will fall off and you or more importantly some poor other succour will 'come a cropper'
Each time the CAA becomes aware that behaviour like this is going unchallenged it fuels their fire for heavy handed regulation and new legislation further burdening the system
Whilst I can't speak for the CAA I can tell you with authority that most enforcement agencies look favourably on those whose intent is honourable. The dishonest guy gets no short thrift with them.
Give consideration to the level and depth of any investigation made at this school after some unfortunate event takes place in the future. The last thing you need is retrospective enquiries leading to a knock on your door. Let me assure you it does happen - i've done the door knocking!
Challenging the behaviour directly is a fair way to start the process. However you need to decide whether your challenge will be heeded for longer than ten seconds after you walk out the door. If you are at all unsure then .........
However, I would urge you to be sure of what your intentions were when you started this thread. Were they honourable and with the intention of raising safety standards. Or were they borne out of some sense of being wronged or crossed by a particular individual.
Bear in mind, that school and that instuctor have probably already read this thread and they'll be plotting their next move already - ball's in your court now!
R1tamer
PS If your thread and allegations are all a crock then you can kiss my curvy butt!
Hovering AND talking
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CHIRP has very little to do with this sort of matter; it is to with pilots reporting incidents that have (usually) happened to themselves. They are reported in the interests of safety so that others can learn from the mistake/error/incident.
The pilot doing the reporting does not have to disclose their identity.
It is not a facility for reporting the wrongdoing of others.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Whirls
Learn from the mistakes of others; you cannot live long enough to make them all yourself
It is not a facility for reporting the wrongdoing of others.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Whirls
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There is nothing wrong with writing a letter to the CAA's licensing/safety group which describes what you have seen whilst making it clear that this was at a time of limited experience and (if you are like most students) substantial stress.
Written in a manner that you would be prepared to stand by around a table with a CAA rep and the CFI, there's no reason to keep this a secret.
Sad to say, I have been in exactly your position as a student at a helicopter training organisation, which is why the comments may have rung a bell!
I trained at a small school for 30 hours then left, joining another school about 6 months later. I immediately realised that there were many issues at my old school. I discussed them with the new instructors and the CFI at the new school, then called the CAA. I could have called the old school but unfortunately the instructors who had taught me had also left the school and I had moved away and did not want to do this over the phone.
I discussed the matter with a member of the CAA safety group, frequently mentioning that it was easy for me as a student to get the wrong impressions. They told me to write it all down, and that what they do is to keep all these issues in mind when arranging inspections - it gives them information about what to look for. Such letters are not that unusual.
I was not contacted again, but if I had been I would have had no problem discussing the letter at a meeting because it just stated what I thought I had seen and did not judge the school. If the CFI had disagreed, he was obviously welcome to his opinion and the CAA can make their own judgements taking into account our relevant experience.
We are all collectively responsible for each other's safety in the sky, and badly trained pilots will hurt everyone, so just as when in a light aircraft I would not hesitate to tell a pilot that I was uncomfortable with the current flight situation (one dissenting voice), you should voice your discomfort.
Would you tell an experienced pilot if you were uncomfortable with a flight situation and ask him to explain how it was safe or make changes to it? I hope so, and hope even more that he would listen!
Don't think of it as being a troublemaker, think of it as acting responsibly by letting those who are qualified to regulate schools do their jobs.
BW
Written in a manner that you would be prepared to stand by around a table with a CAA rep and the CFI, there's no reason to keep this a secret.
Sad to say, I have been in exactly your position as a student at a helicopter training organisation, which is why the comments may have rung a bell!
I trained at a small school for 30 hours then left, joining another school about 6 months later. I immediately realised that there were many issues at my old school. I discussed them with the new instructors and the CFI at the new school, then called the CAA. I could have called the old school but unfortunately the instructors who had taught me had also left the school and I had moved away and did not want to do this over the phone.
I discussed the matter with a member of the CAA safety group, frequently mentioning that it was easy for me as a student to get the wrong impressions. They told me to write it all down, and that what they do is to keep all these issues in mind when arranging inspections - it gives them information about what to look for. Such letters are not that unusual.
I was not contacted again, but if I had been I would have had no problem discussing the letter at a meeting because it just stated what I thought I had seen and did not judge the school. If the CFI had disagreed, he was obviously welcome to his opinion and the CAA can make their own judgements taking into account our relevant experience.
We are all collectively responsible for each other's safety in the sky, and badly trained pilots will hurt everyone, so just as when in a light aircraft I would not hesitate to tell a pilot that I was uncomfortable with the current flight situation (one dissenting voice), you should voice your discomfort.
Would you tell an experienced pilot if you were uncomfortable with a flight situation and ask him to explain how it was safe or make changes to it? I hope so, and hope even more that he would listen!
Don't think of it as being a troublemaker, think of it as acting responsibly by letting those who are qualified to regulate schools do their jobs.
BW
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I have to agree with the majority on this thread that if you were really that concerned you would have done something more constructive by now than just bleat about things on Rotorheads.
You said you were worried that you might get blacklisted - but by whom?
Are you still hiring helicopters from the school where the alegations are based? If so then shame on you, as your own standards leave much to be desired! Any operator capable of doing even half the things you allege on the operational side is very likely to be cutting corners on the maintenance side as well. Do you really want your engine to quite on you, or the "jesus nut" to come off in flight etc? Maybe you are hiring their helicopters because they are cheap and convenient? There is usally a reason for this!
I think you have got to take aboard some of the more controlled advice on this thread and make a decision. If that decision is to "grass" then do it properly - don't use emotional reporting. Only state facts that you can substantiate - that might be the hardest part.
If you do go to the authorities, they should be able to follow-up on your allegations without bringing your name into it, at least at the outset.
It's make your mind up time!!
You said you were worried that you might get blacklisted - but by whom?
Are you still hiring helicopters from the school where the alegations are based? If so then shame on you, as your own standards leave much to be desired! Any operator capable of doing even half the things you allege on the operational side is very likely to be cutting corners on the maintenance side as well. Do you really want your engine to quite on you, or the "jesus nut" to come off in flight etc? Maybe you are hiring their helicopters because they are cheap and convenient? There is usally a reason for this!
I think you have got to take aboard some of the more controlled advice on this thread and make a decision. If that decision is to "grass" then do it properly - don't use emotional reporting. Only state facts that you can substantiate - that might be the hardest part.
If you do go to the authorities, they should be able to follow-up on your allegations without bringing your name into it, at least at the outset.
It's make your mind up time!!
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Quote:The ground school given is very non-existent , I read a lot so I got away with that. Un Quote:
Personally, I prefer to study the information and then have the oportunity to receive validation that I have understood the subject correctly and then expect to be instructed on the relevence. If I haven't already sused it. But that is my preference. Everyone learns differently and the best you can get is a solution tailored for your particular needs. Are you aware of them? Being aware of your deficiencies is half the battle the rest is resolving them. If you are expecting a 'school environment' that follows a specific format then I suggest you should have done your pre course research a little more carefully.
Quote: Pre and post flight briefs do not exist. Un Quote.
Then conduct it yourself by questioning the instructor.
Quote: Dual cross countries are being done in weather like, vis 2KM and cloud base 900 FT.(Having to be put on tower freq when crossing another airfields ATZ)(lower than their circuit height) Un Quote.
Well determining wx minima for a particular training flight is pretty much down to the instructors assessment of the sudents capability balanced by the parameters of the training to be carried out. The bottom line is the instructors capacity to resolve any issues arrising in flight. You are clearly not able to cope with weather of those limits otherwise it would not be an issue so why did you not decline to fly?
Quote: Students have been sent solo cross country in conditions as bad as 700FT cloud, with winds up to 25 knots (in a R22) Un Quote.
Again it is up to the instructors assessment of the students ability and the bottom line is the students 'command' decision. Having said that, you have to learn to cope with all weather condiditons - at the right stage of competency - and you have to start sometime. 700 ft is not bad dependant upon the terrain you are operating over and 25 kts is simply fun!
If you have the ability to deal with it.
Quote: Solo students are allowed to land at private sites if they wish. Un Quote.
Well provided that the site meets the various requirements and it is within the pilots capability to use it, why not? After all landing at varied sites and under different circumstances is all good experience isn't it?
Quote: The in house examiner never fails anyone (worst he does is pass but insist on more flying with instructor before self fly hire) Un Quote.
Well c'mon now......anyone can learn to fly, the question is how long it will take before the money runs out. Under certain circumstances, I see nothing wrong with the above.
Quote: The instructor will do a flight dual then tell the student to log it as solo. Un Quote.
Well there may be reasons for this and without more in depth informations - no comment.
Quote: The instructor blatently ignores Rule 5 with low level flying (100FT over some places to look at something, or 800FT over small cities if he feels like it) Un Quote
Well LF if undertaken without prior planning and without a valid reason is in my opinion silly but have you considered - or are you even aware - of the occasions when you can legitimately low fly and 'bend' the rules to make it seem alright?
The instructor will try and charge 0.2 Hrs more than engine operated Datcon shows in order to build up an hour which he can then use to fly his friends about.
Ground exams answer sheets are left in the vicinity of the student taking the exam in order for him / her to self mark.
The aircraft do not have any radio nav equipment (GPS only) which I believe is a requirement for PPL tests.
Most of the time there is only one instructor (CFI)at this school PPL(FI) with 2000 hours.
Don't get me wrong , he can fly very well but I believe that risks are being taken and corners are being cut.
Altogether I am not sure whether I should find somewhere else to fly.
I read Rotorheads every day and I have a great respect for many of the people who post, be harsh with me if necessary, am I being too picky?
I am no 1000 hour whizkid but I have seen more professional operations elsewhere which have made me think and analyse .
Please advise me whether I should shut up and go and fly elsewhere or not.
Well sunshine - you are clearly not happy with your lot so my advice is to pack up and push off to somewhere else. No really! You should do that. I'd suggest that you'd be best advised to keep your whinges to yourself unless you have absolute concrete grounds for a valid complaint which shows that you have not received what you have contracted for. To do otherwise would in the end make you a viable target because it is clear that there is a significant gap in your understanding and ability - right now. Put it down to experience - after all , all experience is usefull. - and move on.
Personally, I prefer to study the information and then have the oportunity to receive validation that I have understood the subject correctly and then expect to be instructed on the relevence. If I haven't already sused it. But that is my preference. Everyone learns differently and the best you can get is a solution tailored for your particular needs. Are you aware of them? Being aware of your deficiencies is half the battle the rest is resolving them. If you are expecting a 'school environment' that follows a specific format then I suggest you should have done your pre course research a little more carefully.
Quote: Pre and post flight briefs do not exist. Un Quote.
Then conduct it yourself by questioning the instructor.
Quote: Dual cross countries are being done in weather like, vis 2KM and cloud base 900 FT.(Having to be put on tower freq when crossing another airfields ATZ)(lower than their circuit height) Un Quote.
Well determining wx minima for a particular training flight is pretty much down to the instructors assessment of the sudents capability balanced by the parameters of the training to be carried out. The bottom line is the instructors capacity to resolve any issues arrising in flight. You are clearly not able to cope with weather of those limits otherwise it would not be an issue so why did you not decline to fly?
Quote: Students have been sent solo cross country in conditions as bad as 700FT cloud, with winds up to 25 knots (in a R22) Un Quote.
Again it is up to the instructors assessment of the students ability and the bottom line is the students 'command' decision. Having said that, you have to learn to cope with all weather condiditons - at the right stage of competency - and you have to start sometime. 700 ft is not bad dependant upon the terrain you are operating over and 25 kts is simply fun!
If you have the ability to deal with it.
Quote: Solo students are allowed to land at private sites if they wish. Un Quote.
Well provided that the site meets the various requirements and it is within the pilots capability to use it, why not? After all landing at varied sites and under different circumstances is all good experience isn't it?
Quote: The in house examiner never fails anyone (worst he does is pass but insist on more flying with instructor before self fly hire) Un Quote.
Well c'mon now......anyone can learn to fly, the question is how long it will take before the money runs out. Under certain circumstances, I see nothing wrong with the above.
Quote: The instructor will do a flight dual then tell the student to log it as solo. Un Quote.
Well there may be reasons for this and without more in depth informations - no comment.
Quote: The instructor blatently ignores Rule 5 with low level flying (100FT over some places to look at something, or 800FT over small cities if he feels like it) Un Quote
Well LF if undertaken without prior planning and without a valid reason is in my opinion silly but have you considered - or are you even aware - of the occasions when you can legitimately low fly and 'bend' the rules to make it seem alright?
The instructor will try and charge 0.2 Hrs more than engine operated Datcon shows in order to build up an hour which he can then use to fly his friends about.
Ground exams answer sheets are left in the vicinity of the student taking the exam in order for him / her to self mark.
The aircraft do not have any radio nav equipment (GPS only) which I believe is a requirement for PPL tests.
Most of the time there is only one instructor (CFI)at this school PPL(FI) with 2000 hours.
Don't get me wrong , he can fly very well but I believe that risks are being taken and corners are being cut.
Altogether I am not sure whether I should find somewhere else to fly.
I read Rotorheads every day and I have a great respect for many of the people who post, be harsh with me if necessary, am I being too picky?
I am no 1000 hour whizkid but I have seen more professional operations elsewhere which have made me think and analyse .
Please advise me whether I should shut up and go and fly elsewhere or not.
Well sunshine - you are clearly not happy with your lot so my advice is to pack up and push off to somewhere else. No really! You should do that. I'd suggest that you'd be best advised to keep your whinges to yourself unless you have absolute concrete grounds for a valid complaint which shows that you have not received what you have contracted for. To do otherwise would in the end make you a viable target because it is clear that there is a significant gap in your understanding and ability - right now. Put it down to experience - after all , all experience is usefull. - and move on.
The Original Whirly
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I've been thinking about all this for a couple of days before posting....
Over the space of quite a few years, I think I've run into almost all of the things mentioned. It happens. I've got so cynical already that I doubt if it's even unusual. And I've tended to let things lie; maybe I shouldn't, but I have. But few schools, instructors, or individuals, of any type, are perfect.
But to run into them all at the one school!!!!! That, if it's true, is really scary and MUST be reported.
But I don't think the original poster should be attacked the way some of you have. When you're a student, it's hard to know what's really wrong, and what's just....not according to the book, but usual practice in a lot of places. You tend to trust instructors and examiners at the start! You have to; you have your life in their hands. Then, when you get more hours, you start to wonder.... But you're not sure. So you ask your contemporaries, but those with more experience....like those on PPRuNe, for instance.
So what on earth is wrong with asking on here? Have some of you completely forgotten what it's like to be low hours? Do some of you only think there's ever one point of view? Do some of you never ever doubt yourselves, or at least want to check that you may have it right?
But, the bottom line - this school is dangerous and has got to be reported, whatever it takes, even if it means losing a place to fly or a job or whatever you might have to lose. There are other schools, and other places to fly. But each of us only has one life.
Over the space of quite a few years, I think I've run into almost all of the things mentioned. It happens. I've got so cynical already that I doubt if it's even unusual. And I've tended to let things lie; maybe I shouldn't, but I have. But few schools, instructors, or individuals, of any type, are perfect.
But to run into them all at the one school!!!!! That, if it's true, is really scary and MUST be reported.
But I don't think the original poster should be attacked the way some of you have. When you're a student, it's hard to know what's really wrong, and what's just....not according to the book, but usual practice in a lot of places. You tend to trust instructors and examiners at the start! You have to; you have your life in their hands. Then, when you get more hours, you start to wonder.... But you're not sure. So you ask your contemporaries, but those with more experience....like those on PPRuNe, for instance.
So what on earth is wrong with asking on here? Have some of you completely forgotten what it's like to be low hours? Do some of you only think there's ever one point of view? Do some of you never ever doubt yourselves, or at least want to check that you may have it right?
But, the bottom line - this school is dangerous and has got to be reported, whatever it takes, even if it means losing a place to fly or a job or whatever you might have to lose. There are other schools, and other places to fly. But each of us only has one life.
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Whirly
You are correct in part, but I believe that LQ71 has got a licence, albeit probably only recently:
He also professes to understand what constitutes a more professional school and asked us to be brutal if necessary:
Quite simply, he got what he (or she?) was asking for.
Had such questions been put forward during a students formative training I suspect the response would have been more considerate, but still very much to the same point - if things really are that bad, go elsewhere and report the school to the appropriate authorities.
996
- you wouldn't by any chance work for the undisclosed school by any chance? Your defence of such poor standards rang an alarm bell..........
You are correct in part, but I believe that LQ71 has got a licence, albeit probably only recently:
From being at other schools, I am now aware that the standard of training at this one I did my PPLH at was crap!
I read Rotorheads every day and I have a great respect for many of the people who post, be harsh with me if necessary, am I being too picky?
I am no 1000 hour whizkid but I have seen more professional operations elsewhere which have made me think and analyse .
I am no 1000 hour whizkid but I have seen more professional operations elsewhere which have made me think and analyse .
Had such questions been put forward during a students formative training I suspect the response would have been more considerate, but still very much to the same point - if things really are that bad, go elsewhere and report the school to the appropriate authorities.
996
- you wouldn't by any chance work for the undisclosed school by any chance? Your defence of such poor standards rang an alarm bell..........
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Flyer43 - Quote:
996
- you wouldn't by any chance work for the undisclosed school by any chance? Your defence of such poor standards rang an alarm bell..........Un Quote
Certainly not!! - Though you might be forgiven for thinking so. I can see how you read my response but to clarify - no I am not defending it. The standards are poor and if all the OP has said is true then had I the necessary 'clout' I would ensure steps were taken to remedy matters. The OP always has the option to make a formal complaint to the CAA of course but to do so effectively you need to qualify each complaint clearly and with checkable specifics.
The OP failed to specify clear circumstances so all I did was look at some of the 'problems' from another angle. Devils Advocate?
Sometimes trying to prove validity and justification can show failure points and indicate core problems.
996
- you wouldn't by any chance work for the undisclosed school by any chance? Your defence of such poor standards rang an alarm bell..........Un Quote
Certainly not!! - Though you might be forgiven for thinking so. I can see how you read my response but to clarify - no I am not defending it. The standards are poor and if all the OP has said is true then had I the necessary 'clout' I would ensure steps were taken to remedy matters. The OP always has the option to make a formal complaint to the CAA of course but to do so effectively you need to qualify each complaint clearly and with checkable specifics.
The OP failed to specify clear circumstances so all I did was look at some of the 'problems' from another angle. Devils Advocate?
Sometimes trying to prove validity and justification can show failure points and indicate core problems.
Hovering AND talking
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but I believe that LQ71 has got a licence, albeit probably only recently
Cheers
Whirls
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Whirls,
I didn't intend to start a sniping contest, but was commenting on what you appeared to be aluding to with your original post:
As you say, he may well have a CPL/H, or perhpas he's just a very slow learning PPL/H........!!
Cheers F43
PS: No malice intended. I do appreciate your posts on Rotorheads and am sure that I would like you, whoever you are!
I didn't intend to start a sniping contest, but was commenting on what you appeared to be aluding to with your original post:
But I don't think the original poster should be attacked the way some of you have. When you're a student, it's hard to know what's really wrong, and what's just....not according to the book, but usual practice in a lot of places. You tend to trust instructors and examiners at the start! You have to; you have your life in their hands. Then, when you get more hours, you start to wonder.... But you're not sure. So you ask your contemporaries, but those with more experience....like those on PPRuNe, for instance.
Cheers F43
PS: No malice intended. I do appreciate your posts on Rotorheads and am sure that I would like you, whoever you are!
Hovering AND talking
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Hey! Hang on! What's brought this on?
There is Whirlybird (AKA Whirly) whom you've quoted and Whirlygig (AKA Whirls); my good self!
I was just adding an extra and there's no sniping going on whatsoever!
I am sure that you would like both of us!
Cheers
Whirls
Edited to correct my typo as pointed out by Flyer43. And if you didn't point it out Flyer, I know a man who would!
There is Whirlybird (AKA Whirly) whom you've quoted and Whirlygig (AKA Whirls); my good self!
I was just adding an extra and there's no sniping going on whatsoever!
I am sure that you would like both of us!
Cheers
Whirls
Edited to correct my typo as pointed out by Flyer43. And if you didn't point it out Flyer, I know a man who would!
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Whirls,
Multitudinous apologies!! I must be seeing double - well it is shortly after sunday dinner and I've had a couple of glasses of red stuff to wash it down.
I'm sure that I would like both of you, and just to square things up - I've appreciated, and hope to continue to appreciate postings from Whirlybird and Whirlygig (or even Whirygig!).......
Multitudinous apologies!! I must be seeing double - well it is shortly after sunday dinner and I've had a couple of glasses of red stuff to wash it down.
I'm sure that I would like both of you, and just to square things up - I've appreciated, and hope to continue to appreciate postings from Whirlybird and Whirlygig (or even Whirygig!).......
The Original Whirly
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And if you get your new shiny PPL(H), and flushed with success, do a bit of hourbuilding and get your new shiny CPL(H), all at the same school....it's not until you go out into the big wide world, with all of 185 hours (even less if you started with a PPL(A)), that you realise maybe everything wasn't as great as all the wonderful people who taught you to fly at your first school told you it was.
I speak from experience - though I didn't do all my training at one school, and the school wasn't all that bad...but the principle is the same. Maybe I was extraordinarily naive, but I'm sure I wasn't unique - correction, I know for certain I wasn't unique.
flyer43, you'd probably love both of us; it's just that we prefer you to remember that there are two of us, and, as on this thread, we Whirlys don't always agree!
I speak from experience - though I didn't do all my training at one school, and the school wasn't all that bad...but the principle is the same. Maybe I was extraordinarily naive, but I'm sure I wasn't unique - correction, I know for certain I wasn't unique.
flyer43, you'd probably love both of us; it's just that we prefer you to remember that there are two of us, and, as on this thread, we Whirlys don't always agree!
Hovering AND talking
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And if you get your new shiny PPL(H), and flushed with success, do a bit of hourbuilding and get your new shiny CPL(H), all at the same school....it's not until you go out into the big wide world, with all of 185 hours (even less if you started with a PPL(A)), that you realise maybe everything wasn't as great as all the wonderful people who taught you to fly at your first school told you it was.
Cheers
Whirls
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
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LQ71,
Good move.
Since you're correct about my identity, that narrows down the possible schools, doesn't it? I may know who you mean. However, I don't feel able to say any more in public, as my identity is known by many people. But feel free to pm me if you like; I may be able to help.
Glad you liked my article.
Whirls,
Agree 100% with you last post.
What I have decided to do is to report the facts as i know them to be to the CAA and what they decide can or cannot be proven is then up to them.
Since you're correct about my identity, that narrows down the possible schools, doesn't it? I may know who you mean. However, I don't feel able to say any more in public, as my identity is known by many people. But feel free to pm me if you like; I may be able to help.
Glad you liked my article.
Whirls,
Agree 100% with you last post.
The Original Whirly
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I think you presumed I was the student on bad weather flights, you were mistaken , I can handle those conditions however unpleasant they may be. (LQ71)
Now that makes me laugh. You have spent 50k on flying. You aren't a high time pilot. You can handle 2k vis, low cloud etc. (KMS)
Now that makes me laugh. You have spent 50k on flying. You aren't a high time pilot. You can handle 2k vis, low cloud etc. (KMS)
To those who say "name and shame", publish and be damned" etc etc, please remember it's not easy. This school is probably quite well known and well thought of in some circles. LQ71 is a new CPL who's spent shedloads of money and would like to get a job someday. This is a small industry, where people talk. Who are they going to believe - a longstanding school, or a low hours pilot? Especially if the school thought to put it about that he had a grudge, had never been any good, probably shouldn't be flying, or whatever. Sure, none of those things are important in comparison to people's lives, but can any of you who earn your living by flying, truly say, hand on heart, that you wouldn't at least think about them. Whistleblowers are rarely thanked...at least not in their own lifetimes. Can't you understand where LQ is coming from?
OK, I know this may be a wind-up, but I don't think it is, unfortunately. And even if it is, I prefer to take such cases seriously, in case they're for real.
The Original Whirly
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I now know which school and instructor is being referred to, and I'm 100% certain this isn't a wind-up. I haven't been there for a long time, and though I know the person concerned, I didn't know things had got that bad.
I've been talking to a friend who found himself in a similar situation. He contacted Chirp. The head of Chirp contacted the CAA at the highest level, and they paid the school an unscheduled visit. My friend's name was not mentioned. This sounds to me like the way to go with this.
I've been talking to a friend who found himself in a similar situation. He contacted Chirp. The head of Chirp contacted the CAA at the highest level, and they paid the school an unscheduled visit. My friend's name was not mentioned. This sounds to me like the way to go with this.